28.11.08

Today David and I gave a powerpoint presentation to some of the ESO and Bachillerato students. We explained the historical significance and also how we celebrate thanksgiving today. The students were very excited to learn about the special foods we eat and to see pictures from the parade.It was very nice to get to talk about a holiday that is so special to David and I and that also shows that we are not only thankful for our material possessions but things like good health, family and friends.Hopefully, our presentation has sparked a new curiosity in the students and a want to learn more about other cultures.They certainly teach us as much if not more that we teach them.David and I both hope to make a lasting impression on the curious and excited students as they have definitely made one on us.

31.10.08

Yesterday, Brittany and I went to the two "first of ESO" classes to give a brief presentation about Halloween. We worked the previous night preparing a hand-carved pumpkin, which in the USA we call a "Jack 'O Lantern," and two posters with Halloween related vocabulary.

When we entered the classrooms, we told the students about various Halloween activities such as, dressing up in scary costumes and masks, trick-or-treating (children going door-to-door asking for candy), pumpkin carving, and decorating the house. We later played a popular song for the children called, "The Monster Mash" and had them look up words in the Spanish-English dictionaries. Each of the students received typical Halloween candy at the end of the class. At the end of the day we placed a candle inside of the pumpkin and turned off all the lights so the children could see what a traditional Jack 'O Lantern looked like. Needless to say, the children were quite impressed as well as scared!

In case you would like to take a look at the famous "Monster Mash" song, click the link below. Happy Halloween!

12.10.08

Hi. My name is Brittany and I am from Rhode Island. I'm 23 and live at home with my parents. I graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2007 with a BA in Spanish. I am currently scheduled to receive my Master's in Spanish in 2010. In my free time I like to read, watch TV and be with family and friends. I have three sisters and one dog.

Greetings! My name is David Bissember and I am from New York, USA. This year I will be working at Santos Isasa School in Montoro, Cordoba as an English language assistant. I recently graduated from Siena College in Loudonville, New York with a bachelor's degree in Spanish, a minor in Political Science, and I also received an International Business Certificate. I love the way the Spanish language sounds, which is why I decided to come to Cordoba for the year. I believe that the exchange of cultures and language is very important in every society, and I hope to gain as much from my experience here in Spain as I plan to share of my own language and culture.

You live a new life for every new language you speak.If you know only one language, you live only once (Czech proverb)

There is no such thing as an ugly language. Today I hear every language as if it were the only one, and when I hear of one that is dying, it overwhelms me as though it were the death of the Earth (Elias Canetti)